Acid water neutralizer



April 1; 1950 J. E. LINN 7 2 ,503,578

ACID WATER NEUTRALIZER Filed July 22, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INYENTOR JAMES E. LINN ATTORNEY April 11, 1950 J. E. LINN ACID WATER NEUTRALIZER Fild July 22, 1946 2 Sheets-Shet 2 lNVENTG-R E. LINN ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 11, 1950 ACID WATER NEUTRALIZER James E. Linn, Stephens, Mo., assignor of onehalf to Walter E. Marriott, Columbia, Mo.

Application July 22, 1946, Serial No. 685,295

2 Claims. (Cl. 210-18) This invention relates to apparatus and method for treating water.

A troublesome problem has confronted the coal industry in many sections of the country in connection with the water which is used for washing and processing the coal. In many cases the available source of water is contaminated by sulphur compounds which are, or form, acids, and the water is highly corrosive to the pumping system as well as to washing and processing equipment. The damage extends even to customers storage bins and coal feeding equipment. So far as applicant is aware, this problem has not been solved heretofore, nor has any solution been proposed that completely protects the entire system from the corrosion, or one whose installation and use is economically sound.

The direct and primary object of the invention is to solve this problem by providing means for neutralizing acid water prior to its entry into a water sytem for preventing corrosive damage in the entire system, which will be simple in construction, easy to maintain and use, and economical in operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide apparatus for mixing a water treating substance into solution, the strength of which may be controlled as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for treating water prior to its entry into a given system which apparatus is automatically placed in operation upon initiating the operation of the systems pump, or pumps.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention will be afforded from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a water system embodying the instant invention in its preferred form,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing a mechanism for feeding measured quantities of a water treating substance into the system illustrated in Fig. 1,

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of a rotating disk and an adjustable apertured, fixed disk, respectively, employed in a feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 2,

sump illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, which is adaptable to well sources of untreated water.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. l, a water system comprising a sump generally designated II is shown which receives untreated water from a source. such as a pond or the like, through an inlet orifice I2. Connecting with the sump II by means of a pipe I3 is a motor driven pump I4 which withdraws water from the source for delivery to an outlet pipe I5. The pump I4 is driven by a motor I6 whose electrical connections are made in a manner later to be described. Connected into the outlet pipe I5, and ahead of the pump I4, is a pipe H which transfers water from the pump I4 through a manually operated valve I8 into a reservoir I9 forming a part of a water treating mechanism generally designated 2|.

From the reservoir I9 treated water is conveyed by gravity through a pipe 22 to the sump II. The treated water receives a treating agent which is stored in a hopper 23 supported above the reservoir I9 in a closed housing 24. Measured quantities of a water treating agent are fed through a feeding mechanism 25 located in the bottom of the hopper. This latter mechanism comprises a revolving disk 26 which is keyed to a shaft 21. The disk 26 has a radial slot 28 cut therein which at fixed intervals cooperates with an aperture 29 cut into a fixed disk 3I closin the bottom of the hopper 23. A movable block 32 is arranged to slide in keyways 33 channelled in the face of the aperture 29 and is adjustable therein by means of a thumb screw 34 to vary the effective area of this aperture. A spout 35 is attached to the bottom of the fixed disk 3| in alignment with the aperture 29 and feeds a dry water treating ingredient outwardly over a mechanism 36 for driving the shaft 21, from which point the ingredient falls by gravity into the reservoir I9.

The shaft driving mechanism 36 comprises a motor 31 which is connected by means of a shaft and a coupling 38 to a worm gear 39. The latter engages with a gear 4| which is splined to the shaft 21. Within the hopper 23 an agitating arm 42 is connected with the shaft 21 and is arranged to rotate therewith to prevent the clogging of the feeding mechanism 25. Also attached to the shaft 2'! is a paddle 43 which revolves within the reservoir I9 to insure a thorough mixing of the water treating ingredient in solution.

The driving motor 31 and the pump motor I6 plan view, respectively, of a modified form of the are supplied current from a suitable source through the leads M and a switch 45, which latter device controls both motors. Operation of the water treating mechanism 2| is thereby automatically efiected when operation of the water system is started by placing the motor I6 across the line.

Where the untreated water is taken from a source such as a pond, the sump I! may be constructediwit'h amoutenhousing 48. of vitrified clay or the like: Within the housing 46 a sump strainer 51 is attached to the pipe 13 and forms the inlet opening for the water entering the system. Extending downwardly in the sump hous ing 46 is an outlet 48 for the treated water transferred from the reservoir l9. This outlet. takes the form of a ring section 49; or extension, of

the pipe 22 which is drilled with a series of holes permitting complete diffusion of the treated water within an extension of the inlet orifice (2. With this arrangement. of the parts, untreated water. ispresent in: the vitrified: clay housin -only up to a point inprOXimity with the treated water outlet; 48;, From; this point, all of the water surrounding. the submerged portions of the pipes 13 and, 2-2,. the sump'strainer 4'1, and the outlet 48 is treated water, and the external surfaces of theseelements, are; therefore not subject to the harmful. eliectsof the untreated water coming from. the source.

In.- Ei'gs.,7. and 8 a modified. form of the sump H is illustrated. for use inconnection with a system. supplied untreated water from a source, such as: a-.well; Strainer- 41 extend: into the Well in a manner. Such; that. the outlet. orifice 43: for the treated waten from: the reservoir 29 is positioned. to lie parallelgto the surface vofthe water at a distance.

below the sumpstrainenQ-T. Also,;the,ti1e casing is not. used but. in: all other. respects the. sump isithe same and has thesame actionas described for, that illustrated; in Figs. 6 and 7, that is; the untreated waterprevented from coming into contact with: any, portionof; the water pumping. Immost. installations thissump will be system: located belowxthe well; casing and, accordingly the casing: will be protected, too.

not have to be=replaced at frequent intervals.

The; above described.- apparatus andv method is particularly usefulinits adaptation to equipment for washing.- coal wherein aserious problem of. suitable. Water; supply has long been present. Since coaLwashing plantsare-most economically:

locatedat theminesandsince the washing operation; requires large quantities. of water; an adequate, supply of; treated water is not usually-available., Most often the water supply has to be. taken, from pondsor. lakes whose basins areformed naturally or by a miningoperation, such as strip mining. Quite frequently, then, the beds.-

of such ponds or lakes are found in landhaving a highs-ulphur content and the Water. contained in them is thereiore highly acidic. Althoughthe coal may be washed: with this acid water, if it is.

water treating plant has necessarily had to be. replaced at frequent intervals in the prior art.

systems. With the instant invention in use, however, all of these disadvantages are overcome,

Here, the pipe I3 and the sump This; Will rovidean;additionalisaying since the well casing will since the acid water is neutralized before it enters any part of the pumping system.

In this application of the invention, the hopper 23 is charged with hydrated lime and the feeding mechanism 25 is adjusted by means of the thumb screw 3 to discharge a required amount of lime into the reservoir 19. Also the amount of water entering the reservoir is determined primarily by adjusting the: valve iii to deliver the required amount of the-treating solution to the outlet 48.

The cost of treating the water with the present apparatus and method is small and constitutes a minute percentage of the amount which is saved.

It is also to be pointed out that in this particular embodiment, as illustrated in Fig, 1, water for the treating solution is taken ahead of the pump l4. Thus, provision is made for feeding the contents of the reservoir 19 to the outlet 48 in direct ratio to the amount; ofwater withdrawn from the source by the pump M. If,' for any. reason. the output of this pump is. varied, the amount of water flowing into the reservoir through the valve 18 will bealtered accordingly and a corresponding changeinthe head eliective on the outlet orifice of the reservoir will result. Such a change in the head willv-ary the. flow of. the-water treating solution to theoutlet. 48, whichfiow will be in direct proportion to: the water drawn through the sump strainer 41..

The importance of. this feature of theinyention: is pronounced since variationdn';theieffectivehead ofthe-source watenchanges in. the. speed of the pump motor, variations in back pressure on the. pump, etc., are automatically provided. for. insofar as the amount of treating; solution delivered to the-sourceis concerned.

Various changes, if within.- thescope of the:- appendedclaims, may be made in the'details of construction without departing from the; spirit ofthis invention. Parts of the invention may be? used without the whole. and" improvements may; be added while retaining some or all of the:ad.-- vantages. of the invention.

Lclaim:

1.. In a water systemv having; a: sump-fromwhich: water is withdrawn, a pump, a suctionlinebetween the. pump. and the sump; and. adis-charge linefrom the pump, apparatusior supplying, an;

agent for neutralizing acid water. fiowing tosaidi sump comprising a reservoir, feeding mechanism: for supplying; continuously. andrepeatedly measured quantities of. hydrated lime to saidzreservoir,

awater line connectedbetweensaid dischargeline and reservoirwhereby; a continuous flow of water to the reservoir is maintainednin:accordancewith. the operation of the pump, antoverflow conduit connected to the reservoir. and discharging in; the.

sump, whereby. a continuous. flow: of; water and limeiromthereservoir. to. the sump -ise maintained when the pump is in operation.

2. In a water systemhavingzasump iromzwhich water is withdrawn,a pump,.a-.motor.:for driving the pump, a suctionline between the'pump; and. the sump and a discharge line from the pump;-,.

apparatus for supplying anagentforneutralizing acid water flowing to said. sump.v comprising.- a reservoir,- feeding mechanism for supplying,con'-- tinuously and repeatedly measured quantitiesof. hydrated lime to said reservoir, anagitator: in the reservoir, a motor connected. to drivesaid lime supplying means and said. agitator, a-water. line connected betweensaid discharge: line? and said reservoir-whereby a continuous now of water is maintained in accordance with the operation of the pump, an overflow conduit connected to the reservoir and discharging in the sump, a circuit arranged and connected to supply electric current to both of said motors, and a switch for opening and closing said circuit, whereby a continuous flow of lime Water from the reservoir to the sump is maintained when the pump is in operation.

JAMES E. LINN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Re. 18,510 1,716,205 2,081,794 2,099,836 2,296,713

m Number Name Date Green July 5, 1932 Bucher June 4, 1929 Echagaray May 25, 1937 Blanchard et a1. Nov. 23, 1937 Hinsch Sept. 22, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France June 20, 1924 France Jan. 9, 1925 France Jan. 25, 1929 

